MELBOURNE, Oct 3: Australian pace bowler Shaun Tait and slow left-armer Brad Hogg have been ruled out of Australia’s squads for matches against the World XI with injuries, Cricket Australia (CA) said on Monday.

Tait tore cartilage in his shoulder and will need surgery, CA said in a statement, while Hogg has damaged cartilage in his knee.

Tait, who is expected to be out of action for three months, has been replaced by fast bowler Stuart Clark, while Victoria state captain Cameron White will join the one-day squad to replace Hogg, Australian captain Ricky Ponting said.

“Brad’s just been ruled out today with a knee injury,” Ponting told reporters. “I think from all reports he’ll probably have to have an operation pretty soon as well, which is bad news for him and I guess it’s a bit of setback for the team.

“Cameron White will come into the squad and will probably play as well.

“There’s a good opportunity there for an up-and-coming leg spin bowler to play some cricket for Australia. With a negative there always comes a positive and that’s the positive.”

White took two for 49 and made a quickfire 22 off 19 balls against the World XI in a warm-up match in Melbourne on Sunday. He had previously toured with Australia in India last year.

“Obviously this is a massive opportunity, so I’m just looking forward to getting involved in the game and doing well,” said White.

“I think it was just good timing that we had a game with Victoria playing the rest of the world yesterday.”

Australia play the World XI in the first of three One-day Internationals indoors at Melbourne’s Docklands Stadium on Wednesday before a six-day Test match in Sydney next week.—Reuters